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K dm A , a histone H 3 demethylase with bipartite function, differentially regulates primary and secondary metabolism in A spergillus nidulans
Author(s) -
GacekMatthews Agnieszka,
Noble Luke M.,
Gruber Clemens,
Berger Harald,
Sulyok Michael,
Marcos Ana T.,
Strauss Joseph,
Andrianopoulos Alex
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.12977
Subject(s) - demethylase , biology , histone , repressor , mutant , gene , phenotype , transcriptome , genetics , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary A spergillus nidulans kdmA encodes a member of the KDM 4 family of jumonji histone demethylase proteins, highly similar to metazoan orthologues both within functional domains and in domain architecture. This family of proteins exhibits demethylase activity towards lysines 9 and 36 of histone H 3 and plays a prominent role in gene expression and chromosome structure in many species. Mass spectrometry mapping of A . nidulans histones revealed that around 3% of bulk histone H 3 carried trimethylated H 3 K 9 ( H 3 K 9me3) but more than 90% of histones carried either H 3 K 36me2 or H 3 K 36me3. K dm A functions as H 3 K 36me3 demethylase and has roles in transcriptional regulation. Genetic manipulation of K dm A levels is tolerated without obvious effect in most conditions, but strong phenotypes are evident under various conditions of stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that – in submerged early and late cultures – between 25% and 30% of the genome is under K dm A influence respectively. Transcriptional imbalance in the kdm A deletion mutant may contribute to the lethal phenotype observed upon exposure of mutant cells to low‐density visible light on solid medium. Although K dm A acts as transcriptional co‐repressor of primary metabolism genes, it is required for full expression of several genes involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.